Systems · Seminole, FL
Single-stage
A single-stage system has one speed: full. It cools quickly, shuts off, and waits. On a correctly sized house that is fine, and it is what most of Pinellas County has. On an oversized one it is the tier where short cycling does the most harm.
- Lasts
- 12 to 15 years
- Typical, at 3 tons
- $6,500 to $9,500
Single-stage changeout, Pinellas Park. Illustrative job on this demo.
What decides this number
- 01A return too small for the new system adds a day and a duct run
- 02An attic air handler is cheaper to fit and hotter to run
- 03Reusing the line set saves a few hundred and carries a risk we will explain
- 04New ductwork and a bigger return: adds $2,500 to $6,500
Asked about single-stage
Is single-stage a false economy?
Not if the size is right. It is a false economy if the system is oversized, because that is the combination that leaves a house cold and damp.
How loud is it?
Louder than the other two, because it only has one speed and that speed is full. Outside it is noticeable from a lanai; inside it is the air that you hear rather than the unit.
What is 14.3 SEER2?
The minimum efficiency that can be sold new in the south. It is a floor set by regulation, not a sales tier.
The size first. The price after it.
Forty minutes in the house, measured room by room, and the size on paper before anyone talks about equipment.